This is the arrival of John the Baptist on the scene. He begins his ministry after spending some time, perhaps up to ten years, in the wilderness in preparation. Being called to be a prophet, he did not enter the priesthood at the age of 20 as should have been the case. Now it is the fifteenth year of Emperor Tiberius and John is 30 years old.
Luke gives us very precise historical details, in keeping with his intention of reassuring us about the certainty of what we have been taught. It was the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar. Herod the Great, the one who wanted to kill the baby Jesus, had died; his kingdom was divided among his sons, Archelaus, Herod Antipas, and Herod Philip. At this point in history, Archelaus was deposed for his crimes and replaced by governors appointed by Rome, the fifth being Pontius Pilate. A man named Lysanias governed the fourth part of the kingdom. They were therefore tetrarchs. All these civil administrators were impious men.
What about the religious authorities? Surely there will be more hope there? Unfortunately, no. Annas and Caiaphas, according to Luke, were high priests. Why two when the Law provided for only one? Annas had been deposed by the Romans when he lost their favor, but the position remained in his family. His sons held it, and Caiaphas was his son-in-law.
They were Sadducees who did not believe in the resurrection of the dead or in spirits; they were not men of God, but corrupt men. The family controlled commerce within the temple grounds, and material matters were more important to them than spiritual matters. The religious leaders lived the good life. The people were adrift. But they lived in expectation of the Messiah. It was in this climate that John the Baptist began his ministry. He was upright, austere, and completely upright. What a contrast.
The Word of God came to John in the wilderness, and he began preaching the baptism of repentance. And his words were poignant. Click to watch.
What a contrast between the frankness of John the Baptist and many preachers today.
Anglican priest JC Ryle lamented “the morbid hatred of strong words, the excessive fear of offending, and the mania for avoiding direct and clear language, which unfortunately characterize modern Christian preaching. Uncharitable language must, of course, be avoided. But there is no charity in flattering unconverted people, in refraining from mentioning their vices, or in using sympathetic names for reprehensible sins. There are two texts which are too often forgotten by Christian preachers. In one it is written, Luke 6:26 Segond 21 26 Woe to you when all men speak well of you, …! And in the other, Galatians 1:10 NIV 21 Now then, do I seek the favor of men, or of God? Do I seek to please men? If I were still pleasing men, I would not be a servant of Christ..”
When Jesus began His ministry, He too had the message 'Repent.' Let us be convinced of the need to speak the truth to those who listen to us.
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